‘When did you last see Ivy?’ Olivia wanted to know, but Nadia was already speaking to the Countess.
‘You do look lovely, dear,’ said the Countess.
Nadia curtsied and then nearly fainted when Jackson reached out to shake her hand.
Just then, Olivia heard Horatio say, ‘The Count Nicholas Lazar and his granddaughter Miss Ivy Vega!’
Ivy walked into the ballroom, feeling like she could take on the world. She was wearing her own fitted black dress with horizontal zipper decorations and a little paper red heart dangling from the zipper near her right shoulder. Best of all, she was wearing her clompy boots.
She felt comfortable, happy and little bit wicked.
‘I thought you were going to wear Georgia’s dress,’ Olivia said as Ivy and the Count approached.
‘I was,’ Ivy said simply.
‘And what about Prince Alex?’ Olivia wanted to know. Her face wore a mixture of awe, pride and nerves.
‘You’ll see,’ Ivy replied. She could barely contain her glee.
The crowd gasped collectively. One woman lifted her black lace fan over her face and another leaned over to whisper in her friend’s ruby-adorned ear.
Ivy already knew what they were seeing. She turned to watch Prince Alex and Tessa smiling at each other, standing in the doorway side by side, holding hands.
Horatio said, loudly and clearly, ‘His Highness Prince Alexander of Transylvania and . . . Miss Tessa Lupescu.’
Tessa looked incredible in Georgia’s dress. Instead of a braid, her long hair was tumbling over her shoulders. She was a couple of inches taller than Ivy and looked as stunning as any catwalk model. And in the high-heeled Victorian boots, she walked with the confidence of a model, too.
Prince Alex didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. It was obvious to all these high-society vampires that these two people were in love.
‘I thought I was the one who did the matchmaking,’ Olivia whispered, giving her sister a nudge. ‘Well done.’
Ivy looked over to the Queen. She looked stunned, one gloved hand on her heart. But as the happy couple began greeting guests, her face softened.
It was clear to everyone that they seemed to fit together so well. Tessa laughed nervously and Alex kept one hand firmly on her waist.
‘I just hope that the Queen might start to accept it,’ Ivy whispered back to her sister.
The band struck up the first song and couples moved on to the dance floor.
‘My beautiful daughters.’ Mr Vega appeared in front of them. ‘I must say thank you for bringing me here, for showing me what family is all about.’ He bowed formally. ‘If I could, I would dance with you both.’
‘Luckily –’ Jackson stepped over – ‘I can help with that. Olivia?’ He bowed and held out his hand which Olivia accepted.
Ivy chuckled as her father did the same for her.
While Olivia’s cheerleader training helped her pick up the steps very easily, and Jackson’s movie training came in handy for him, Ivy and Charles lingered near the edge, giggling as they pretended to dance.
Prince Alex and Tessa waltzed past in sync. To Ivy Tessa looked just like a princess should.
‘Thank you,’ Tessa mouthed as they floated past.
‘Not quite our scene, is it, Ivy?’ said Mr Vega as they waddled back and forth.
‘But I’m having fun,’ Ivy admitted.
Just then, the Queen walked up to them. ‘I believe you are responsible for my son’s happiness this evening.’
Ivy blinked and stopped dancing. Did that mean she’s not going to have my head chopped off?
‘The Lazar family has a way of changing things,’ the Queen said.
‘What do you mean, Your Majesty?’ Mr Vega said.
‘First,’ she said, ‘your parents have been pestering me for years about being more inclusive with humans and, secondly, your daughter has shown me that I should also trust my son’s judgement more than I have.’ She glanced across the dance floor at Alex and Tessa, then looked pointedly at Mr Vega. ‘Times do change, sir.’
She swished away, her train trailing across the wooden floor.
Ivy’s dad looked stunned, but he smiled. ‘That was a surprise,’ he said to Ivy, taking up her hands again and starting to dance.
Just then, the Countess clapped her hands. ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ she called. ‘Thank you very much for attending. We are so happy to have our family together on Valentine’s Day, knowing that there is so much love under our roof. We hope that you share those loving feelings and that you enjoy this song, chosen especially for my wonderful granddaughters.’
She signalled to the band. After the first few notes, Ivy recognised the song. It was ‘Together Eternally’ by The Killer Bees, one of her favourite bands.
Olivia hurried over with Jackson, Alex and Tessa. The Count and Countess came too, and the eight of them formed a circle, with the younger generation shouting out the words to the song.
For the first time since she’d arrived, Ivy felt like she truly belonged.